Difi smacks down DeMint

It came as something of a surprise today when a South Carolina Republican began rattling off on the Senate floor statistics about California and its phenomenally productive agriculture sector.

But that’s what conservative firebrand Jim DeMint did, waxing eloquent on the enormous market share owned by growers of California tomatoes, lettuce and other vegetables and fruit, by way of arguing a national interest in California water policy.

DeMint offered an amendment on the $32 billion Interior appropriations bill being managed by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, that in effect would have banned water diversions from farmers to aid endangered species. California farmers are warning that they are an endangered species themselves, water shortages being but the latest assault on their existence.

“What started out as a local water problem in California is quickly developing into a food problem for the nation,” DeMint said. “This region (California) is vital to our nation’s food supply…If we don’t address this problem now, not only will thousands of people remain out of work in California, but everyone in the country will pay higher food prices.”

Feinstein, managing bill as an Appropriations subcommittee chair, quickly rebuked DeMint for butting into her business, and a very complex topic on which she suggested he may be ignorant.

California water policy “is not an issue in South Carolina, trust me,” Feinstein said.

DeMint’s newly minted concern about California follows a broadcast by conservative talk-show host Sean Hannity from the Central Valley last week accusing the government of putting fish before food.